Glow sticks. Dancing. Pulsing music. People moving, entranced by a throbbing beat. Is this a scene from a club … or the Mitchell Memorial Library at Mississippi State University?
On Sunday, Dec. 6, a rave at the Mitchell Memorial Library will take place. Students are encouraged to arrive a little before 10 p.m., event organizer Nathan Johnson said.
“If said rave were to occur, I’d say that would probably be the greatest and most probable date and time,” he said.
After seeing a video of a rave at University of North Carolina, Johnson, a junior biological engineering major, created a Facebook group, RAVE in the Mitchell Memorial Library. Interest in the group suddenly exploded. As the group gained more members, sometimes 300 in a few days, Johnson said he realized he had to make the event happen.
“I made it, not as a joke, but thinking, ‘This could never happen. Never, ever, ever,'” he said. “When I made it, I only invited my friends, and I thought maybe 70 people would join, then I sent out a message that said, ‘I’m pretty serious about this, guys, so invite all your friends.”
The group now has more than 2,600 members. Johnson said joining the Facebook group is the best way to know exactly what is going on and how to get involved in this event.
“It’s not a secret, but at the same time, if you’re in the group, you’re in. We’re not begging people on the outside to come, but the more students, the better,” he said.
Senior computer engineering major Daniel Simpkins helped Johnson in the rave organization. He said he has been the trusty sidekick for Johnson and has played a role in promoting and recruiting for the event.
“I’m the main propagandist,” Simpkins said. “I’m the one that’s making people realize this is something they need to do.”
Johnson said he appreciated Simpkins’ emotional support when he sought permission from dean of students Thomas Bourgeois and dean of libraries Francis Coleman, a move which brought criticism from some group members.
“It’s a great idea in theory, like communism, to just storm the library,” Johnson said. “And magically, there’s music playing from somewhere and magical lights flashing. And magically, police don’t come with pepper spray and disperse the crowd.”
The rave is only approved, not endorsed or sponsored by MSU, Johnson said. With approval, plans could include taking the Christmas tree down, something Johnson said he was surprised and grateful.
“I’m responsible for it- – I’m linked to that group,” Johnson said. “So we’re not going to break anything, and we’re going to clean up if there is even a mess.”
With permission, preparations could also be made for sound equipment.
“We want it to be really loud,” Simpkins said. “Preferably, it’s hard to stand because it’s so loud, and it registers at a 4.5 on the Richter scale, a 4.5 to 6.”
Junior aerospace engineering major Michael Barton said he is excited about the rave because it gives him a chance to relax during finals week.
“It gives students a break from studying and brings us together with flashing lights,” he said.
Procrastination is one incentive to come to the rave Simpkins said, and he encourages students to come with glow sticks and just dance.
“Instead of people getting on Facebook, they’re going to just come and rave,” Simpkins said. “It’s going to be a much more productive 10 minutes than they would spend looking and stalking people’s photographs.”
Though studious, Johnson said the idea of the rave appeals to him because he loves to dance.
“This is not a place, this is not a time to just stand around with your friends. So if you’re going to go, be prepared to go insane,” he said. “We have a beautiful library that’s begging for people to dance in it.”